Apparatus for annealing wire or metallic rods by electricity



(No Model.)

J. H. HUNTER.

APPARATUS FOR ANNEALING WIRE OR METALLIC RODS BY ELECTRICITY.

No. 484,637. A Patented Oct. 18, 1892,.

I UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. HUNTER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR ANNEALING WIRE OR METALLIC RODS BY ELECTRICITY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,637, dated October18, 1892.

Application filed June 2, 1891. Serial No. 394,860. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH II. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and usefullmprovement in Apparatus forAnnealing IVire or Metallic Rods by Electricity, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus whereby rods orribbons of metal or wire are heated by means of the electric current toa given heat and allowed to cool again for the purpose of annealingthem; and the objects of it are to provide an apparatus wherein the heatto be generated in the wire or rod or ribbon to be annealed can becontrolled for the purpose of uniformly annealing the same, and also inthe apparatus to provide the means by which this can be done in severaldifferent ways.

Figure 1 shows my invention and the electrical circuits through whichthe current is applied tothe substance to be annealed. Fig.

' 2 is an end view of one of the standards 8 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is adetail of brush-holder5 in Fig. 1.

Like figures and letters refer to like parts throughout.

In Fig. 1,1 is a dynamo, and 2 is a converter arranged in multiple are,with conductors a leading to binding-posts 13 13 of brusli-holders 5 5.14 is an ammeter, and 3 is a rheostat placed in series in conductor abetween one of the terminals of the dynamo and converter andbinding-post 13 of brush-holder 5. at is a volt-meter in multiplebetween the conductors running from the terminals of the dynamo andconverter to the binding-posts of the brush-holders. 6 is a graduatedrod made of any material which, if a conductor, is separated into twosections by a block of non-conducting material 7. This rod is supportedby standards 8 S, fixed in base 12, and upon it are placed brush-holders5 5, which are constructed in such manner as to be adjusted at anydesired distance from each other by sliding the same along rod 6. 9 is ahole in standard 8 through which wire 15 is drawn in passing from a reel11 to reel 11', being supported while stretched between standards 8 8 byguides 10 10.

In Fig.3, 16 is a set-screw placed in the bruslrholder in such positionas to enterhole 17, through which rod 6 is passed for the purpose ofadjusting the brush-holders 5 5 with reference to each other. 18 18 areset-screws placed in lugs 19 of the brush-holders for the purpose offorcing the brushes 21 against lug 20 of the same.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the standard 8, showing a hole 22 for thereception of rod 6, and also showing a hole 9, bushed with the metallicbushing 23.

To use my invention after the electrical circuits have been arranged, ashereinbefore described, the wire is passed through the hole 9 in thestandard 8 and carried through hole 9 in standard 8 to the reel 11 andthe brushes 21 21 are placed in such position as to rub upon wire 15, asshown in drawings. The wire is then caused to pass at the desired speedfrom reel 11 to reel 11, and, being in contact with both brushes,completes the electrical circuit of the apparatus and the current willbe caused to flow through the whole length of the wire or rod or ribbonas it is caused to pass the contact-brushes. In annealing wire ormetallic rods it is known that the desired qualities in the same havebeen attained when the wire or rod has attained a certain temperature,which is ascertained from the color it assumes upon being heated andbeing allowed to gradually cool. To give any desired quality to annealedwire, the temperature of the same must be controlled, and my presentinvention affords the means of controlling the temperature given towires or metallic rods annealed by means of the same.

It is well known that wires, by reason of their resistance, are heatedto a certain temperature by the passage of a given electric current,reference being had to the electromotive force and intensity of thesame, and by governing the intensity and electro-motive force of acurrent any desired heat can be given to a wire or a rod of a givenresistance. In my present invention the intensity and electro-motiveforce of the current used to raise the wire or rod to the desiredtemperature is controlled, first, by the speed at which the dynamo isdriven, or the current which is sent through the primary coils of theconverter; second, by means of the rheostat 3, placed between the sourceof electrical energy and the wire or rod to be annealed, and, third, byadjusting the bruslrholders at the terminals of the circuit at differentdistances from each other, thereby using different lengths of the Wireto be annealed and varying the resistance of the same. Either of thesemethods may be used to vary the current sent through the Wireindependent of the other, or they may be used together, or any two ofthem in combination, to effect the same result.

The am'meter and volt-meter and the color of the Wire being annealed,will indicate to the person operating my apparatus when the desiredtemperature of the wire has been obtained, and by the above-mentionedmeans, either singly or in combination or altogether, Will enable him,in the manner well known, to keep the wire being annealed at thattemperature and in that shape which will give it a uniform degree ofhardness or softness, as may be desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The brush-holders, each comprising two lugs 19 and an intermediatelug 20, located at some distance from the lugs 19, leaving a spacebetween them, and the brushes 21, clamped in each space, in combinationwith the circuit connections and means'for feeding the wire along incontact With said brushes, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for annealing wire by electricity, the slottedstandards 8 and 8, the graduated rod secured in the said standards, andthe guides 10 and 10, in combination with the brush-holders located onthe said rod, the brushes 21 and 21, the binding-posts 13 and 13,located upon the brush-holders, and the electrical connections to thesaid binding-posts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for annealing Wire by electricity, in combination, agraduated rod having mounted thereon adjustable brushholders, said rodbeing supported by standards provided with guides for the passage of therod or ribbon to be annealed, and reels for said rod or ribbon,substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of May, A.D. 1891.

JOSEPH II. HUNTER.

\Vitnesses:

W. MOKENNAN, J r., JOHN S. LUcocK.

